Shedeur Sanders reacts to Quinshawn Judkins injury, surgery

Just when it is Cleveland Browns seemed to build something positive late in a difficult season, Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills provided another a stark reminder of how fragile momentum can be.

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders showed flashes that reignited optimism about his long-term potential, but injuries to both Sanders and fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins overshadowed the performance.

Sanders had a promising start against one of the NFL’s best teams, helping Cleveland hang with Buffalo early and even outdoing Josh Allen on the ground.

That progress came to a screeching halt midway through the game when Sanders suffered a painful throwing finger injury. After initially trying to stay in the game, blood could be seen pouring from his right little finger, eventually forcing him to the locker room. Afterwards, Sanders explained exactly how the injury occurred, giving an insight into how sudden it is the moment was

“I don’t know. My little one was like I put my hand in a warm one,” Sanders said. “I think why doesn’t (the finger) heat up then like I threw Quinshawn like a little route down there. Then it’s like it was a little high and like I dinged.”

Despite the setback, head coach Kevin Stefanski praised Sanders’ toughness, stating his readiness to fight through the pain and prolong the game with the feet. Stefanski emphasized that while Sanders still has room to grow, his resilience remains outstanding.

“Sanders fought like he did,” Stefanski said. “I thought he made some amazing footwork today, which I thought would be the case in the game. He’s going to struggle with injuries … but he’s really proud of how he fought.”

The Browns’ situation worsened moments later when Judkins suffered a gruesome shin injury on a short pass from Sanders.

Judkins was taken with a dislocated ankle and a fractured fibula, an injury that would require surgery and end his rookie season. Sanders was visibly shaken when he saw his teammate go down, detailing the emotional aftermath.

“It really hurt that Quinshawn went down like that,” Sanders said. “Me and Quinshawn were in a room yesterday and we talked until 11-11:30, just about life, everything. Just building a connection with the rookie class, making it a new energy, and kind of staying on track with everything. I’m definitely sad because I’m like, ‘I can’t just throw this away. They’re covering it.’

Judkins finished with 22 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards before the injury, and early reports suggest he may not be back until four to five months out.

For Cleveland (3-12), the final weeks of the season now shift toward evaluating young talent, hoping Sanders’ health stabilizes and Judkins’ recovery remains on track as the Browns look to 2026.